Suction needle providing vent capability

Abstract

This suction needle device is used to transfer liquids such as cytotoxic drugs from a stoppered container to a syringe. This device has a sharpened needle which is conventionally attached to a hub. A thin-walled tubular sleeve is mounted on the shank of this needle and is disposed in a telescope fashion around this shank. One end of the sleeve is disposed a short distance from the sharpened end of the needle so that the stopper may be entered by the sharpened needle and sleeve and provides a seal when so penetrated. A crimping tool provides opposed and longitudinally displaced localized crimps to deform the sleeve to the extent that a positive engagement with the shank of the needle is made. The crimps are limited enough to provide positive securing of the sleeve without bending or distorting the interior capacity of the needle to draw fluids into the syringe. The thin-walled sleeve may have an aperture in the side and in flow communication with the air passage between the needle shank and sleeve. Other embodiments show this air passage in flow communication past the crimps to the atmosphere.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A suction needle device for fluid withdrawal and venting the interior of a stoppered vial or container, said device including: (a) a hollow metal needle having a shank attached at one end to a hub, said needle having a sharpened outer end and through said hub providing a fluid conduit through said needle;   (b) a thin-walled tubular sleeve of a lesser length than the shank of the needle and having an internal diameter larger than the outer diameter of the needle, said tubular sleeve having an entering and a rear end and coaxially aligned with the shank of the needle when mounted and secured thereto, providing a substantially annular space therebetween, with said space providing an air conduit between the shank of the needle and sleeve;   (c) an aperture formed in and through the side wall of the thin-walled tubular sleeve and near that end of the tubular sleeve near the hub, and   (d) at least two localized crimps formed in said tubular sleeve, these crimps longitudinally displaced and providing securing of the sleeve to the needle shank to prevent movement therealong, said crimps sufficient to locally deform the sleeve without substantially deforming the lumen of the needle, these crimps disposed between said formed aperture and that end of the tubular sleeve adjacent the attached hub of the needle.   
     
     
       2. A suction needle device as in claim 1 in which the needle has its sharpened end and the entering end of the tubular sleeve arranged for ease in penetration of a resilient stopper of a vial. 
     
     
       3. A suction needle device as in claim 1 in which the crimps are V-shaped and the longitudinal displacement and penetration is rearward from the aperture formed in the thin-walled tubular sleeve, with side crimps established by mechanical means. 
     
     
       4. A suction/needle device as in claim 1 in which there are at least two crimps formed in the outer tubular sleeve and with at least one crimp disposed on opposite sides of the shank of the needle. 
     
     
       5. A suction needle device as in claim 1 in which the thin-walled tubular member has a wall thickness of five-thousandths of an inch or less and the entering end of said tubular member is chamfered to provide a diminished effort for penetration of a resilient stopper. 
     
     
       6. A suction needle device as in claim 1 in which the rear end of the thin-walled tubing is proximate the forward end of the hub which is secured to the needle. 
     
     
       7. A suction needle device as in claim 1 which further includes a resilient tubular member which is cut to a determined length, with a first and second end, and with the first end stretched sufficiently to snugly engage and be seated upon the needle hub and with the needle and secured thin-walled tubular sleeve passed through a penetrated intermediate side wall portion of the resilient tubular member and with the needle and secured thin-walled tubular sleeve extending beyond this tubular resilient member, and with this second end of the resilient tubular member closed with a filter vent cap, the aperture in the tubular sleeve in flow communication with the interior of the resilient tubular member. 
     
     
       8. A suction needle device as in claim 7 in which the closing of the second end of the resilient tubular member is with a filter carried in a cap member that is retained with and by a tubular sleeve that is a friction fit within the tubular member. 
     
     
       9. A suction needle device as in claim 7 in which the filter in the vent cap is adapted to exclude the passage therethrough of bacteria. 
     
     
       10. A suction needle device as in claim 1 which further includes a resilient tubular outer member formed as a molding which includes a short transverse or substantially right-angle outward extension which is intermediate first and second ends of the molded outer member and with the first end sized to snugly engage the needle hub when said molding is stretched and said second end is sized to snugly engage and be seated on the secured thin-walled tubular sleeve, this intermediate extension having an open end that is closed by a retained filter member; this intermediate extension is in flow communication with the interior of the resilient molded member and the aperture in the thin-walled tubular sleeve. 
     
     
       11. A suction needle device as in claim 10 in which the filter is a disc-like member and the filter is adapted to exclude the passage therethrough of bacteria. 
     
     
       12. A suction needle device as in claim 11 in which the filter member is carried in a cap member that is retained in the extension and by a friction fit. 
     
     
       13. A suction needle device as in claim 12 in which there are at least two crimps formed in the outer tubular sleeve and with at least one crimp disposed on opposite sides of the shank of the needle. 
     
     
       14. A suction needle device for fluid withdrawal and venting the interior of a stoppered vial or container, said device including: (a) a hollow metal needle having a shank attached at one end to a hub, said needle having a sharpened other end and through said hub providing a fluid conduit through said needle;   (b) a thin-walled tubular sleeve of a lesser length than the shank of the needle and having an internal diameter larger than the outer diameter of the needle, said tubular sleeve having an entering and a rear end and coaxially aligned with the shank of the needle when mounted and secured thereto, providing a substantially annular space therebetween, with said space providing an air conduit between the shank of the needle and sleeve, and   (c) at least two localized crimps formed in said tubular sleeve, these crimps providing securing of the sleeve to the needle shank to prevent movement therealong, said crimps sufficient to locally deform the sleeve without substantially deforming the lumen of the needle, these crimps disposed at that end of the tubular sleeve adjacent the attached hub of the needle.   
     
     
       15. A suction needle device as in claim 14 in which the needle has its sharpened end and the entering end of the tubular sleeve chamfered for ease in penetration of a resilient stopper of a vial. 
     
     
       16. A suction needle device as in claim 14 in which the crimps are staggered and are disposed on opposite sides of the needle shank. 
     
     
       17. A suction needle device as in claim 14 in which the crimps are substantially opposite or are opposite each other along the needle shank. 
     
     
       18. A suction needle device as in claim 17 in which the rear end of the sleeve is formed at an angle such that the opening is oblique and provides an air passage connection with said annular space between the needle and sleeve. 
     
     
       19. A suction needle device as in claim 17 in which the sleeve is formed with an aperture in the side of the sleeve, and with this aperture at least partly open and in communication with said annular space between the needle and sleeve. 
     
     
       20. A suction needle device as in claim 17 in which there is formed a slot extending from the rear end and inward to a determined distance ahead of the crimps, said slot in communication with said annular space between the needle and sleeve. 
     
     
       21. A method of constructing and using a suction needle device for fluid withdrawal and venting of a stoppered vial or container, said method including the steps of: (a) attaching a hollow metal needle shank to one end of a hub and sharpening said needle at a distal entering other end, said needle and hub providing a fluid conduit therethrough;   (b) positioning a thin-walled tubular sleeve of a lesser length than the shank of the needle, said sleeve having an internal diameter larger than the outer diameter of the needle, with said tubular sleeve having an entering and a rear end and coaxially aligning said sleeve with the shank of the needle when mounted and providing a substantially annular space therebetween, said space providing an air conduit between the shank of the needle and sleeve;   (c) forming an aperture in and through the side wall of the thin-walled tubular sleeve and positioning said aperture near that end of the tubular sleeve near the hub, and   (d) forming at least two localized crimps in said tubular sleeve, these crimps longitudinally displaced and providing a securing of the sleeve to the needle shank to prevent movement therealong, said crimps sufficient to locally deform the sleeve without substantially deforming the lumen of the needle, these crimps disposed between said formed aperture and that end of the tubular sleeve adjacent the attached hub of the needle.   
     
     
       22. A method of constructing and using a suction needle device as in claim 21 which includes positioning the sharpened needle and shaping the entering end of the tubular sleeve so as to provide a combination of members with an ease in penetration of a resilient stoppered vial. 
     
     
       23. A method of constructing and using a suction needle device as in claim 21 which includes forming V shaped crimps with a crimping tool and positioning said crimps with a longitudinal displacement and penetration which is rearward from the aperture formed in the thin-walled tubular sleeve, with the depth of said crimps established by mechanical means. 
     
     
       24. A method of constructing and using a suction needle device as in claim 21 which includes providing at least two crimps in the outer tubular sleeve and disposing at least one crimp on opposite sides of the shank of the needle. 
     
     
       25. A method of constructing and using a suction needle device as in claim 21 in which the thin-walled tubular sleeve is selected with a wall thickness of five-thousandths of an inch or less and the entering end is chamfered to provide means for a diminshed effort for penetration of a resilient stopper. 
     
     
       26. A method of constructing and using a suction needle device as in claim 21 which further includes the steps of securing an added resilient tubular member and cutting this tubular member to a determined length with a first and second end, and stretching said first end sufficiently to snugly engage and seat upon the needle hub and passing the needle and secured thin-walled tubular sleeve through a penetrated intermediate side wall portion of the resilient tubular sleeve, with said needle and secured thin-walled tubular sleeve extending beyond this resilient tubular member, and closing this second end of the resilient tubular member with a filter vent cap, this resilient tubular member positioned so that the aperture in the tubular sleeve in in flow communication with the interior of the resilient tubular member. 
     
     
       27. A method of constructing and using a suction needle device as in claim 26 in which the closing of the second end of the added resilient tubular member is with a filter carried in a cap member and includes retaining said filter by a tubular sleeve that is a friction fit within the tubular member. 
     
     
       28. A method of constructing and using a suction needle device as in claim 26 which includes forming the filter from a material that is adapted to exclude the passage therethrough of bacteria. 
     
     
       29. A method of constructing and using a suction needle device as in claim 21 which further includes the steps of securing an added resilient tubular member which is formed as a molding which includes a short transverse or substantially right angle outwardly-extending tubular extension which is intermediate a first and second end of said molded resilient tubular member and stretching said first end so as to snugly engage the needle hub and stretching the second end of the molding so as to snugly engage the exterior of the secured thin-walled tubular sleeve, and positioning this intermediate outward tubular extension so as to be in flow communication with the interior of the molded resilient member and the aperture in the thin-walled tubular member. 
     
     
       30. A method of constructing and using a suction needle device as in claim 29 which includes forming the filter from a material that is adapted to exclude the passage therethrough of bacteria. 
     
     
       31. A method of constructing and using a suction needle device as in claim 30 which further includes retaining this filter member in a cap and retaining this cap in the tubular extension by a friction fit. 
     
     
       32. A method of constructing and using a suction needle device as in claim 30 which includes providing at least two crimps in the outer tubular sleeve and disposing at least one crimp on opposite sides of the shank of the needle. 
     
     
       33. A method of constructing and using a suction needle device for fluid withdrawal and venting of a stoppered vial or container, said method including the steps of: (a) attaching a hollow metal needle shank to one end of a hub and sharpening said needle at a distal entering other end, said needle and hub providing a fluid conduit therethrough;   (b) positioning a thin-walled tubular sleeve of a lesser length than the shank of the needle, said sleeve having an internal diameter larger than the outer diameter of the needle, with said tubular sleeve having an entering and a rear end and coaxially aligned with the shank of the needle when mounted and providing a substantially annular space therebetween, with said space providing an air conduit between the shank of the needle and sleeve, and   (c) forming at least two localized crimps in said tubular sleeve, these crimps providing securing of the sleeve to the needle shank to prevent movement therealong, said crimps sufficient to locally deform the sleeve without substantially deforming the lumen of the needle, these crimps disposed near that end of the tubular sleeve adjacent the attached hub of the needle.   
     
     
       34. A method of constructing and using a suction needle device as in claim 33 which further includes positioning the crimps in a staggered array and disposing said crimps on opposite sides of the needle shank. 
     
     
       35. A method of constructing and using a suction needle device as in claim 33 which further includes disposing and positioning the crimps substantially opposite or opposite each other along the needle shank. 
     
     
       36. A method of constructing and using a suction needle device as in claim 35 which further includes forming the rear of the sleeve with a sloped configuration, and providing in and with this slope an air passage to said annular space between the needle and sleeve. 
     
     
       37. A method of constructing and using a suction needle device for fluid withdrawal and venting of a stoppered vial or container, said method including the steps of: (a) attaching a hollow metal needle shank to one end of a hub and sharpening said needle at a distal entering other end, said needle and hub providing a fluid conduit therethrough;   (b) positioning a thin-walled tubular sleeve of a lesser length than the shank of the needle, said sleeve having an internal diameter larger than the outer diameter of the needle, with said tubular sleeve having an entering and a rear end, and coaxially aligning said sleeve with the shank of the needle when mounted and providing a substantially annular space therebetween, said space providing an air conduit between the shank of the needle and sleeve;   (c) forming an aperture in the side wall of the sleeve, and positioning said aperture in the rear of the sleeve so that at least a portion of this aperture is in flow communication with said annular space between the needle and sleeve, and   (d) forming at least two localized crimps in said tubular sleeve, these crimps longitudinally displaced and providing a securing of the sleeve to the needle shank to prevent movement therealong, said crimps sufficient to locally deform the sleeve without substantially deforming the lumen of the needle, these crimps disposed between said formed aperture and that end of the tubular sleeve adjacent the attached hub of the needle.   
     
     
       38. A method of constructing and using a suction needle device for fluid withdrawal and venting of a stoppered vial or container, said method including the steps of: (a) attaching a hollow metal needle shank to one end of a hub and sharpening said needle at a distal entering other end, said needle and hub providing a fluid conduit therethrough;   (b) positioning a thin-walled tubular sleeve of a lesser length than the shank of the needle, said sleeve having an internal diameter larger than the outer diameter of the needle, with said tubular sleeve having an entering and a rear end, and coaxially aligning said sleeve with the shank of the needle when mounted and providing a substantially annular space therebetween, said space providing an air conduit between the shank of the needle and sleeve;   (c) forming a slot in and through the side wall of the thin-walled tubular sleeve and positioning said slot to the rear and so as to be in communication with the annular space between the needle and sleeve, and   (d) forming at least two localized crimps in said tubular sleeve, these crimps longitudinally displaced and providing a securing of the sleeve to the needle shank to prevent movement therealong, said crimps sufficient to locally deform the sleeve without substantially deforming the lumen of the needle, these crimps disposed between said formed aperture and that end of the tubular sleeve adjacent the attached hub of the needle.